The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has launched its initiative for supplying live sheep at subsidised prices during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
The initiative starts from June 2 until the end of the holy month. MEC has agreed with Widam Foods Company to import around 30,000 heads of live Arab origin sheep, which is highly demanded by Qataris, to be sold at subsidised prices.
Each Qatari is entitled to two sheep, which are sold directly at the slaughter house at the Doha Central Market and the other slaughter houses of Widam in other areas. The buyer should produce his ID.
The price of a Syrian sheep of 40kg and above is set at QR950, and the Jordanian sheep of 35kg and above is set at QR850. MEC is supplying 20,000 Syrian and 10,000 Jordanian sheep.
The extra costs and charges include QR16 for slaughtering and packing a sheep, and QR34 for the porter. Widam will supply air-conditioned tents for customers to wait, with special places for the elderly and women.
The initiative is meant to maintain balanced prices at the local market and ease the costs for the locals during the season.

Another spell of strong winds forecast
With another spell of strong winds expected in Qatar from today, the weather office has issued fresh warnings for both onshore and offshore areas.
In a post on its social media channels, the Qatar Met department said strong northwesterly winds were expected to affect Qatar today and this was likely to result in blowing dust and a drop in visibility. Offshore areas, too, were likely to see windy conditions and high seas today.
The wind speed may go up to 35 knots at times in both inshore and offshore areas, with the visibility dropping to 2km or less in some places.
The Met department has advised residents to remain cautious and avoid sea activities in view of the expected conditions.
The forecast for inshore areas today says it will be hot during the day with blowing dust at times. Dusty conditions are also expected in offshore areas, and the sea level may rise to 13ft in some places at times.
Hot weather was experienced across the country yesterday with the mercury level reaching 45C in Abu Hamour, Al Batna and Al Khor, the Met department said in a tweet.
Today, the maximum temperature is expected to be 39C in Doha, 38C in Messaied, Wakrah and Al Khor, 36C in Abu Samra, 35C in Dukhan and 32C in Ruwais.

FM meets New Zealand counterpart
HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday met New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully on the sidelines of the World Humanitarian Summit, currently underway in Istanbul.
The meeting reviewed bilateral relations between Qatar and New Zealand and means of developing them.
The two sides also discussed ways of promoting commercial ties by motivating chambers of commerce in both countries and the private sector as well as exchanging visits so as to achieve the mutual interests of Qatar and New Zealand.
The meeting also touched on the latest political developments on the regional and international fronts.

Real estate transactions

The total trading value in the real estate transactions contracts registered with the Land Registry Department of the Ministry of Justice from May 15 to 19 reached QR529,343,795.
According to the weekly bulletin issued by the Department, the real estate sales included lands, houses, residential buildings, multi-purpose buildings, a tower, shops and a residential complex, located in the municipalities of Doha, Umm Salal, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Al Rayyan, Al Daayen Al Wakrah, and Al Shamal.

Independence Day greetings
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.

Congratulatory cables sent
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and  HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to Patsy Reddy on the occasion of her appointment as Governor-General of New Zealand.
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